Wilton Schools

Mar 15, 2013

Richard C. Lasselle

Picture: Steven Fradenburgh, who opened it as a boarding school of superior facilities, erected the Wilton Academy in 1859. He operated the school for only two years. It was occasionally used as a school throughout the years. The Academy was destroyed in a tragic fire on January 2, 1970.

Growing Up In Wilton - Part 1

YESTERDAY

Before WWII, Wilton students attended one-to-three-room local schools, usually through grade 8.

Before WWII, students from Wilton usually boarded in Saratoga Springs or South Glens Falls to attend high school.

Dorothy Nolan taught for 50 years, mostly in the 3-room Wilton #1 school on Waller Road.

Parts of Wilton “consolidated” with Saratoga Springs, South Glens Falls, and Schuylerville school systems about 50 years ago.

F. Donald Myers, who lived in the Wilton home originally built by Duncan McGregor c. 1830 on route 9, supervised education in the town before becoming the District Superintendent of the Board of Cooperative Educational Services.

In 1866, there were 10 one-room schools in Wilton as identified on this map.

TODAY

Students residing in Wilton attend one of the following school districts: Saratoga Springs, Schuylerville, or South Glens Falls.

The Dorothy Nolan Elementary School and the Ballard Elementary School are located in Wilton and pictured below.

About 800 K-5 students attend Dorothy Nolan Elementary School (above), the largest elementary school in the Saratoga Springs City School District.

Almost 380 K-5 students attend Ballard Elementary School, which is part of the South Glens Falls Central School District.

Some elementary students in Wilton attend other elementary schools in Saratoga Springs, Schuylerville, or South Glens Falls.

Both Dorothy Nolan School and Ballard School are among the schools receiving a ‘Distinguished’ rating from Great Schools.

I started school at Wilton #1 Elementary School on Waller Road, which backed up to Lake Elizabeth.

Some of my class members in town will remember the year our class was held at the Grange Hall because of space limitations at Wilton #1.

I attended the new Dorothy Nolan Elementary School the first year it opened. What a big school—each grade had its own room!

With appreciation to Jeannine Woutersz, Wilton Town Historian, whose book, Images of America: Wilton (2003), provided a few of the facts in this column.

This is the first of several columns written by Dick Lasselle about various aspects of life in Wilton—reflecting on the changes over the years and spurring discussion about our memories and our hopes for the future. Dick grew up on Putnam Lane in Wilton, just off Jones road, and now lives on property that was part of the Putnam farm, originally owned by his great-grandparents. Dick’s sister, Linda Baker, and his mom, Doris Lasselle, will also contribute toward the development of these articles focused on life in Wilton.

Town of Wilton Bicentennial1818 - 2018

The Town of Wilton is celebrating its 200th Birthday in 2018
with a series of events throughout the year.